pit-a-pat
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pit-a-pat” mean?
The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same.
Is “pit-a-pat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.